1. cloth, an essential part of most Jamaican bad words, such as bumbo clot, rass clot, blood clot, etc. The essence of Jamaican cursing seems to be nastiness, rather than the blashemy or sexuality which is characteristic of the metropolitan countries.2. to hit or strike - from the verb "to clout". (5)3. literally means a used tampon (31)

COCO

:

a potato-like edible root, known elsewhere as the taro or the eddo. It was brought to Jamaica from the South Pacific. This is completely distinct from cocoa, usually called chocolate. (5)

COCOBAY

:

another word for leprosy. Jamaicans use it to describe skin conditions that display bumps, warts or a scaly appearance. (49)

COIL

:

money (6)

COLD I UP

:

humiliate or be-little (29)

COME DUNG

:

come down, get ready (as to prepare to play a tune) (6)

COME EEN LIKE

:

to seem as if; to resemble. (5)

CONTROL

:

to be in charge of, responsible for, to own; to take (1)

COO 'PON

:

v. (origin unclear) Look upon! (7)

COO YAH

:

v. (origin unclear) Look here! (7) pay attention (17)

COOL RUNNINGS

:

usually used at a time of departure on a long journey meaning have a safe trip (31)

COOLIE

:

the traditional Jamaican epithet for East Indians. It is never used It is never used for Chinese Jamaicans. Usually in the form coolie-man or coolie-oman. It is not considered polite today anymore than the term nega, but it is still used widely in rural areas. (5)

COLLIE

:

n. (urban slang) ganja (7)

COME YAH (cumyu)

:

come here. (17)

CORK UP

:

jammed, filled, crowded (2)

CORN

:

1. marijuana 2. money 3. a bullet (1)

COTCH

:

verb (cotch up), to support something else, as with a forked stick; to balance something or place it temporarily; to beg someone a cotch, can be a place on a crowded bus seat or bench; or it may mean to cotch a while, to stay somewhere temporarily. (5)

COTTA

:

a roll of cloth or vegetation placed on top of the head to cushion the skull from the weight of a head load. (5)

CRAB

:

aside from it's usual meaning, it is a verb meaning to scratch or claw. (5)

CRAVEN

:

greedy (5)

CRAVEN CHOKE PUPPY

:

someone who wants everything but when they get it , they can't manage it.

CREATION STEPPER

:

means you step it in and throughout Babylon without fear - cuttin' edge, livin' on the edge, fear no foe. Lookin justice in the eye and saying, What are you doin ?"!! (29)

CRIS

:

crisp; popularly used for anything brand-new, slick-looking. (5)

CRISSARS

:

crisp, brand-new (2)

CROMANTY

:

adj. from Corromantee, Blacks from the Gold Coast believed to be rebellious (7)

CROCUS BAG

:

a very large sack made of coarse cloth, like burlap (10)

CROSSES

:

problems, vexations, trials; bad luck, misfortunes. (5)

CRUCIAL

:

serious, great, "hard,", "dread" (1)

CU

:

verb, look! (5)

CU DEH!

:

look there! (5)

CU PAN

:

look at. (5)

CU YA!

:

look here! (5)

CU YU

:

To say "Look at you." To the person you are refering to. (14)

CUBBITCH

:

covetous. (5)

CUDJO

:

n. name of famous Maroon warrior; mn born on Monday, from Fante, Twi kudwo (7)

CULTURE

:

reflecting or pertaining to the roots values and traditions highly respected by the Rastas (1)

CUSS-CUSS

:

a quarrel or fracas, with lots of cursing. (5)

CUT YAI

:

to cut your eye at somebody is a very common means of expressing scorn or contempt, for example; one catches the other person's eye, then deliberately turns one's own eyes as an insult. (5)You can also cut your eye at somebody in a friendly way. (29)

a person who sings or scats along with dub music, sometimes called "toasting" (2)

DAAL

:

split peas, usually a thick soup, from Indian cuisine, from Hindi. (5)

DADA

:

father (6)

DALLY

:

executive zig-zag movements on wheels (2) or on foot (6) to ride a bicycle or motorbike with a weaving motion, as when ones weaves around potholes. (5)

DAN DADA

:

the highest of DON'S (6)

DAN

:

than (5)

DARKERS

:

sunglasses (6)

DASHEEN

:

a big soft yam-like root, often slightly greyish when cooked. It is related to the coco, but one eats the "head" instead of the tubers. (5)

DAWTA

:

a girl, woman, "sister," girlfriend (1)

DEAD HOOD

:

(the H is silent) = A man that can't perform sexually. Impotent. (14)(29)

DEADERS

:

meat, meat by-products (1)

DEESTANT

:

decent. (5)

DEGE or DEGE-DEGE

:

adjective, little, skimpy, measly, only, as in a two dege-dege banana. (5)

DEH

:

there (place) (6)

DEY

:

v. to be, exist, as in "No yam no dey". From Ewe de or Twi de - to be (7)

DEY 'PON

:

(aux. v.) - to be engaged in action or continuing activity (35) literally "there upon" As in "it dey pon de table". (29)

DI

:

the (6)

DILDO MACCA

:

dangerous macca or thorn that will bore you up (29)

DINKI

:

a kind of traditional dance at funerals or "nine nights" ("set-ups"); now popular among school children. (5)

DIS or DIS YA

:

this (6)

DJEW

:

as a verb, rain a djew; as a noun, djew rain.It means a light rain or drizzle. (5)

DOGHEART

:

a person who is especially cold and cruel (6)

DOKUNU

:

used to describe a popular dessert cooked in banana leaves. Also called tie-a-leaf and blue draws. (49)

DOLLY

:

executive zig-zag movements on wheels (2)

DON

:

one who is respected, master of a situation (6)

DONKYA

:

from "don't care"; careless, sloppy, lacking ambition, etc. (5)

DOONDOOS

:

an albino. (5)

DOWNPRESSOR

:

preferred term for oppressor (1)

DOTI

:

"Dutty" means dirty, dirt or earth (19)(29)

(TO) DRAW CARD

:

the act of fooling someone (6)

DREAD

:

1. a person with dreadlocks2. a serious idea or thing3. a dangerous situation or person4. the "dreadful power of the holy" 5. experientially, "awesome, fearful confrontation of a people with a primordial but historically denied racial selfhood" (1)

possessive. "fi me"-"mine" (7) Can also mean "for" or "to", as in "I ha' fi", I have to.Yu num fi du dat = You are not to do that. (12)Fe is Fi as in fi ar means hersfi im - hisfi dem - theirsfi you - yoursfi me - mine (29)

FIESTY (FAASTI)

:

impudent, rude, out of order, cheeky. (5)

FIRST LIGHT

:

tomorrow (1)

(HIM A) FISH

:

a gay person (6)

FIT

:

when used of fruits and vegetables, it means ready to pick, full grown, though not necessarily fully ripe. (5) also means in good shape. ("You haffe fit!") (31)

FORWARD

:

1. to go, move on, set out 2. in the future (1)

FRONTA

:

tobacco leaf used to roll herb (1)

FUCKERY

:

wrong, unfair (6)

FULLNESS, TO THE FULLNESS

:

completely, absolutely, totally (1)

FUNDS

:

Money (6)

GAAN A BED

:

an adverbial phrase; following a verb of liking or loving, it has a superlative meaning; Can be used in any context, such as "I love hafu yam gaan to bed!". (5) means very much as in liking very much (29)

itch. Many such words could be listed under H, as initial H is added to scores of words at will. (5)

HEAD MAN JANCRO

:

n. albino buzzard (7)

HERB

:

marijuana (1)

HIEZ-HAAD

:

ears-hard, thick skulled, stubborn, unwilling or unable to hear. (5)

HIEZ

:

ears. (5)

HIGGLERS

:

higglers, who are primarly woman who buy and sell goods that they have imported into the country. Some higglers, however, do not make trips out of the country to buy goods, but sell the goods that others import. The connection between higglers and dancehall culture is crucial as they form one of the strongest international links between JA, North America, and the Caribbean. (16)

HITEY-TITEY

:

upper class, high tone, "stoosh". (5) someone who pretends to be better than they are (29)

HOMELY

:

to be relaxed, comfortable, enjoying your home surrounding. (14)

HOOD

:

penis. (5)

HORTICAL (DON)

:

respected, acclaimed (6)

HOT-STEPPER

:

fugitive from jail or gun court (1)

HUSH

Other English speakers may hear this word and wonder why they’re being told to shut up but for Jamaicans, “hush” is an expression of empathy and/or sympathy. The word is useful in many different situations such as comforting someone who is sick or grieving, or empathizing with someone facing a problem at work. (49)

I-DREN

:

(n.)- male Rastafarian (35)

I-MAN

:

I, me, mine (1)

I-NEY

:

a greeting (2)

I-REY

:

1. a greeting 2. excellent, cool, highest (1)

I-SHENCE

:

herb (1)

I-TAL

:

vital, organic, natural, wholesome; refers to way of cooking and way of life (1) in colors, red, green and gold (2)

I-WAH

:

hour or time (43)

I

:

replaces "me", "you", "my"; replaces the first syllable of seleted words (1) I and I, I&I: I, me, you and me, we (1)Rastafari speech eliminates you, me we, they, etc., as divisive and replaces same with communal I and I. I and I embraces the congregation in unity with the Most I (high) in an endless circle of inity (unity). (3)

praises (11) Praises to the almighty given by Rasta when calling on the name of Jah for strength and assistance for achieving progress in life. (30)

ISMS and SKISMS

:

negative term denoting Babylon's classificatory systems (1)

ITES

:

1. the heights2. a greeting3. the color red (1) great (2)4. another word for irie. Or you use it to mean "OK" as in when someone asks you to do something for you, you would reply, "Ites." (29)

IWA

:

certain time or hour (43)

JA, JAM-DOWN

:

Jamaica (1)

JACKASS ROPE

:

homegrown tobacco, twisted into a rope. (5)

JAH KNOW

:

Lord knows (1)

JAH

:

God; possibly derived as a shortened form of Jahweh or Jehovah (1) Jah Ras Tafari, Haille Selassie, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, conquering Lion of Judah; rastas revere Haile Selassie as the personification of the Almighty (2)

JAMDUNG

:

Jamaica, "Jam" to press down "dung" down. Ironic reference to social and economic conditions of the masses (7)

JAMMIN

:

to be having a good time, to be dancing calypso/soca (6)

JANCRO

:

n. literally John Crow, buzzard (7)

JANGA

:

shrimp, crayfish. (5)

JELLY

:

a young coconut, full of jelly. (5)

JON CONNU

:

n. (John Canoe). Bands of elaborately masked dancers appearing around Christmas. They ressemble the ancestral dancers of West Africa, but the ety. of the word is unclear. (7)

JOOK

:

to pierce or stick, as with a thorn or a long pointed stick. (5) also used in a sexual context (29)

JOOKS

:

hangout, relax (29)

JUDGIN'

:

adjective, everyday or ordinary clothes or shoes worn in the yard or in the bush, as in "judgin' boot". Also as a verb, to judge, with a similar meaning. (5)

JUU

:

as a verb, rain a juu; as a noun, juu rain. It means a light rain or drizzle. (5)

KABA-KABA

:

unreliable. a shoddy job or a person who works shoddily. (49)

KALI; COOLY

:

marijuana (1)

KALLALOO

:

a dark, green leafy vegetable, very nutritious and cheap. (5)

KASS KASS

:

n. quarrel or contention. From combination of English curse or cuss, and Twi kasa kasa-to dispute verbally (7)

KATA

:

a roll of cloth or vegetation placed on top of the head to cushion the skull from the weight of a head load. (5)

KAYA

:

see ganja (4)

KETCH UP

:

grapple (28) get in a fight (29)

KETCHY-CHUBY

:

It can be a sexual term meaning the man throw it and the woman catch it! It can also mean a game - life's game, how to see through today to meet tomorrowand all the games of life as in "life is just a ketchy-chuby game." (29)

KEMPS

:

a little bit, a tiny piece, from skimps. (5)

KIN TEET

:

"skin teeth" to laugh at someone or give them a plastic smile, sometimes used derogatorily as in "A little kin-teet bwoy." (29)

KISS ME NECK!

:

common exclamation of surprise. (5)

KISS TEET

:

to kiss one's teeth or to suck one's teeth is to make the very common hissing noise of disappoval, dislike, vexation or disappointment. (5)

KOUCHIE

:

bowl of a chalice or chillum pipe (1)

KRENG-KRENG

:

an old-fashioned meat rack, hung up high over the fire to catch the smoke. (5)

KUMINA

:

n. Ecstatic dance for the purpose of communicating with ancestors. From Twi akom-to be possessed and ana-by an ancestor (7)

LABA-LABA

:

to chat, gab; gossip. (5)

LABRISH

:

gossip, chit-chat. (5)

LAGGA HEAD

:

Dumb acts as if you have no common sense. Stupid. "yu dam Lagga head bud" (14)

LAMBSBREAD

:

a form of high-quality marijuana (1)

LARGE

:

respected (6)

LET OFF

:

pay out (28)

LEGGO BEAS'

:

wild, disorderly, like a let-go beast. (5)

LICK

:

To hit (13)

LICKY-LICKY

:

fawning, flattering, obsequious. (5)

LIKKLE

:

little (29)

LILLY BIT

:

little bit, tiny. (5)

LION

:

a righteous Dread (1) a great soul (2)

LIKKLE MORE

:

see you later (2)

(TOO) LIKKY-LIKKY

:

title given to those who like to eat any food they encounter , without discretion (6)

MAAMA MAN

:

a gay person, an effeminate man, a weakling (6)

MAAS

:

n. from master or massa. Now freed from its class origin; a respectful form of address to an older man. (7) chill out, be by ones self for a while (24)

MACCA

:

thorn, prickle. dangerous. (29)

MACCA BACK

:

boney fish used to make fish soup (29)

MADDA

:

mother (6)

MAFIA

:

big-time criminals (1)

MAGA DOG

:

mongrel (4)

MAGA

:

thin (2) (from meagre) (5)

MAMPI

:

Fat or overweight (13)

MANACLES

:

chains (11)

MANNERS

:

under heavy discipline or punishment. for example when Kingston is under "heavy manners", they have a curfew or call out the army. (10)

MARINA

:

a man's undershirt, guernsey; a tank-top style. (5)

MAROON

:

n. free black warrior-communities which successfully resisted British hegemony during eighteenth century and early nineteenth century. From Spanish cimmaron- untamed, wild (7)

"What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means: What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly. In other words - the things that seem good to you now, can hurt you later... (10)

NASH

:

female genatalia (6)

NATTY, NATTY DREAD, NATTY CONGO

:

1. dreadlocks 2. a person with dreadlocks (1)

NAZARITE

:

Ancient Hebrew meaning to "separate", consecrated, set apart by choice and devotion (1)

NICE UP

:

to promote and foster a positive feeling. to "nice up the dance" means to get the party going (50)

NIYABINGHI

:

1. "death to all black and white oppressors"2. East African warriors who resisted colonial domination3. large Rastafarian meeting and spiritual gathering4. referring to orthodox, traditional Rastas5. a variety of drumming (1)

NIYAMEN

:

name for Rastas referring to Niyabinghi warriors of East Africa (1)

NO CYA

:

no matter, as in "no kya weh im tun", no matter where he turns. (5)

NOTCH

:

Don or top ranking badman (33)

NUH

:

interrogative at end of sentence; literally, "Is it not so?" (7)

NUH NUTTIN

:

not a big deal (17)

NUH TRUE?

:

isn't it so? (1)

NYAM

:

to eat. (5)

(TOO) NYAMI-NYAMI

:

title given to those who like to eat any food they encounter, without discretion (6)

a curse-exclamation, similar to "what the hell" (6)To rahtid ---> Exclamination!!, i.e Wow! a milder form to Rass...excitement!! (40)

RHYGIN

:

adj. spirited, vigorous, lively, passionate with great vitality and force; also sexually provocative and aggressive. Probably a form of English raging. (7)
Inspired by the character played by Jimmy Cliff in the Perry Henzel Jamaican classic movie "The Harder They Come" 1972 (57)

RIZZLA

:

brand of rolling paper. (3)

ROCKERS

:

reggae music (1) reggae music as it is played today,the latest sound (2)

ROOTS

:

1. derived from the experience of the common people, natural indigenous2. a greeting3. name for a fellow Rasta (1)

ROTI

:

flat Indian pan breads. (5)

ROYAL, (RIAL)

:

n. offspring of some other race and black, ass in "Chiney-Rial," "coolie-rial"; humorous as in "monkey-rial" (7)

RUDE BOY

:

a criminal, a hard hearted person, a tough guy (6)

RUN-DUNG

:

food cooked in coconut juice, obtained after grating the dry coconut meat and squeezing it in water, thus extracting the coconut cream. (5)

RUNNING BELLY

:

diarrhea (12)

RYAL

:

royal. (5)

SAL'TING

:

1. dishes cooked with saltfish or meat.2. that part of the meal which is served with the "food" (starchy food, ground food).3. by some strange extension, the female organ, often simply called "sal". (5) the food that goes with the rice, potatoes or starchy food; like calalloo, fish and sauce, sauces or gravy (29)

SALT

:

adjective, broke, empty-handed, low on funds or food, as in "tings salt" or "i' salt". (5)

SAMBO

:

the colour between brown and black; someone who is a cross between a mullatto (brown) and a black. (5)

SAMFAI MAN

:

trickster, conman. (5)

SHAMPATA

:

n. sandal of wood or tire rubber. Span. zapato (7)

SANFI

:

A manipulator - dishonest person. A person that will sweet talk you out of love and money. "Dam Sanfi Bitch". (14)

SANKEY

:

n. religious song of a paticularly lugubrious tone, sung in the long or common meter. From Ira David Sankey, evangelist and hymnalist (7)

SAPS

:

a weakling, loser (53)

SATA

:

to rejoice, to meditate, to give thanks and praise. (5)

SATTA

:

sit, rest, meditate (1) relax (6)

(GO) SATTA

:

claim how spiritual you are (11)

SCIENCE

:

obeah, witchcraft (1)

SCIENTIST

:

occult practitioner (2)

SCOUT

:

denoting inferior status (6)

SCREECHIE

:

to sneak by (6)

SCREW

:

to scowl, to be angry (1)

SEEN

:

I understand, I agree (1)

SEEN?

:

Do you understand? (6)

SHAG

:

home-cured tobacco, straight from the field. (5)

SHAKE OUT

:

leave without haste, casually (2)

SHEG (UP)

:

verb, to bother, as in "all sheg up", all hot and bothered, or or spoiled up (as of work). (5)

SHEG-UP

:

to be messed up, ruined (6)

SHEPHERD

:

n. leader of revivalist cult; also proprietor of balmyard, healer and prophet (7)

to dance to reggae music (1) to move with cunning, ulterior motives (2)

SKIL

:

kiln, as in "limeskil". (5)

SKIN

:

rolling paper (1)

SKIN YOUR TEETH

:

smile (1) plastic smile (29)

SLABBA-SLABBA

:

big and fat, slobby, droopy. (5)

SLACKNESS

:

lewd, vulgar lyrics popular in DJ singing (4)

SLACKY TIDY

:

unkept or messy (29)

SLAP WEH

:

awesome, or great. (55)

SMADI

:

somebody. (5)

SO-SO

:

only, solely, unaccompanied. (5) weak, pallid (6)

SOFT

:

not well done, amateurish; unable to cope (1)broke, no money (2)

SOUNDBWOY

:

usually a derogatory way to refer to the selecter or other personality in another sound system. This term is most often employed in clashes, on dub plates built for clashes, and so on. Sometimes it is not used in such a negative manner, but most of the time one refers to the someone in the crew as a soundman, not a boy. (17)

SOUND SYSTEM

:

Huge mobile stereo setups manned by DJs, who became celebrities as they traveled Jamaica to host open-air dances (46)

SPLIFF

:

large, cone-shaped marijuana cigarette (1)

SPRING

:

to sprout, as of yams or cocos, making them inedible. (5)

STAR

:

common term of affection, camaraderie (1)

STEP

:

to leave, to depart (1) briskly, quickly (2)

STOOSH/STOSHUS

:

upper class, high tone, "hitey-titey". (5)

STRING UP

:

a muscial rehearsal (2)

STRUCTURE

:

body, health (1)

SU-SU

:

gossip, the sound of wispering. (5)

SUFFERER

:

a poor person stuggling to survive (2)

SUPM, SINTING

:

something (6)

TACK

:

bullet (2)

TACUMAH

:

n. character in Anancy tales. Said to be the son of Anancy. Twin'ticuma (7)

someone who jumps on a cause but is not fundamentally committed. Just on for the ride. (19)

WANGA-GUT

:

hungry-belly. (5)

WARRA-WARRA

:

politely omitted bad words, same as "tarra-warra". (5)

WENCHMAN

:

a kind of fish, "hail brother john, have you any wenchman?" (from "Row Fisherman Row"). (10)

WH'APPEN?

:

what's happening? (4)

WHATLEF

:

What's left over (7)

WHEELS

:

vehicle (6)

WHOLE HEAP

:

a lot (1)

WINE

:

"wine" appears in every West Indian dialect, and is literally a corruption of "wind." It means to dance, sometimes seductively. (17)

WINJY

:

thin and sickly looking. (5)

WIS

:

vine, liana, from withe. (5)

WOLF

:

a non-rasta deadlocks (2)

WOOD

:

penis. (5)

YA NUH SEE?

:

you know? (1)

YA

:

hear, or here. (5)

YABBA

:

a big clay pot. (5)

YAGA YAGA

:

Dancehall slang. a way to big up a brethren; to express a greeting or attract attention, i.e. yo! or yush! true friend; bonafide; brethren. (9)

YAHSO

:

here (place) (6)

YAI

:

eye. (5)

YARD

:

home, one's gates (1) tenement (2)

YOUTH

:

a child, a young man, an immature man (1)

YUSH

:

Yush talk is bad boy talk. Or it can be a way of saying "YO". In other words it is a way for rude boys to hail each other up. (27)

ZION

:

Ethiopia, Africa, the Rastafarian holy land (1)

ZUNGU PAN

:

zinc pan. (5)

PHRASES or PROVERBS

"Me come yah fi drink milk, me no come yah fi count cow!" (Deliver that which you promised, don't just talk about it!) (15) stay out of trouble or gossip. Means I came here to (whatever you came for) not get involved in politics or gossip. (29)

"What sweet nanny goat a go run him belly" is a cautionary Jamaican proverb which translated means: What tastes good to a goat will ruin his belly. In other words - the things that seem good to you now, can hurt you later... (10)

"tek smadi mek poppy-show", which means to make fun of someone or shame them, making them look ridiculous. (5)

"You too red eye" (meaning, you're too envious) (14)

Ya No See It? (you know?) (1)

"the gal come wine up on me," it would mean that the girl came and was dancing up on me. (17)

"Chicken merry; hawk deh (is) near", it's a Jamaican proverb which simply means, every silver lining has its dark cloud Even in the happiest times one must still be watchful. (22)

"Fire de a Mus Mus tail, him tink a cool breeze". Set a Rat's tail on fire and he's thinks there's a cool breeze. Used to describe someone or something (the system for example) that is clueless. (4) This characterizes the delusional complacency of the upper classes. (22)

"Me throw me corn but me no call no fowl" It evokes the image of a farmer silently scattering who is saying, in effect: "Don't call yourself a chicken just because you eat my feed; I never said I was endeavoring to feed the chickens." That is, "You are who you show yourself to be, not who you might say you are." (21)

"Sorry for maga dog, maga dog turn round bite you". This metaphor extends very well to all manner and sort of do-gooding and should be considered before any hasty acts of charity! (22) giving help to someone and they show no sign of thanks and may even scorn you for it. (29)

"Mi throw mi corn, but me no call no fowl". refers to the conversational technique of throwing out a provocative statement (throw corn) in an indirect manner, thus forestalling any accusations of personal insult. (22)

"Sweet nanny goat have a running belly". It's a barnyard analogy akin to the grass is always greener, but much coarser, noting that the sweet foliage avidly sought out by the nanny goat gives it diarrhea (running belly). It's a blunt way of warning someone off temptation. (22)

"cock mouth kill cock" really can't be expanded upon any further, nor can the similar "If a fish coulda keep him mout' shut, him would neva get caught". (22) somebody who chat too much (29)

"Everyting Crash". The topic is social chaos. Also, "come bad in de morning can't come good a evenin'", and the even more pessimistic "every day bucket go a well, one day di bucket bottom mus drop out". (22) Mashin up of one's plans (29)

"Wanti wanti can't get it, getti getti no want it", i.e., the Have-nots covet what the Haves take for granted. (22)

"Trouble no set like rain", that is, unlike bad weather, we are often not warned by dark clouds on the horizon. (22) reminder to be careful (29)

Jamaican proverbs consistently counsel patience and forebearance, as in the beautiful image "time longer than rope". The child must "creep before him walk". And remember, "one one coco fill up a basket", take it easy and fill up your shopping basket one item at a time. (22)

"Every mikkle makes a muckle", refers to thriftiness, similar to "a penny saved is a penny earned". (22)

"No cup no broke, no coffee no dash wey". Even if disaster strikes your home it's always possible that all may not be lost. (22) you don't make a fuss there won't be a fight. (29)

"Wha eye no see, heart no leap" means that something terrible could happen but if you don't see it, you are not frightened. (29)

"The higher the monkey climbs the more him expose". A truly comic image if you've ever been to the zoo, and comforting to any of us whose backs have been used as a stepping-stone for someone else's success. (22)

"A city upon the hill cannot be hidden." same as above (29)

"A new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows every corner". A profoundly witty statement that sums up any number of current situations, including the state of today's music. (22) often used in man and woman relationships as in "your new man buff and ting but the old man know where it sweet you." In other words, the new broom may look better but the old broom has understanding bout tings! (29)

"dry land tourist". A Jamaican who's never been off the island but still acts like a big shot. (10) Someone who acts topanorish and has nothing (29)

"An a jus Lass nite mi dideh". "And it was just last nigh I was there" (25)

"Lef mi Nuh". "Leave me alone." (25)

"Tek de neegle an sow de piece of clawt". "Take the needle and sow the piece of cloth" (25)

"How yuh nyam so much". "How do you eat so much." (25)

"Is Mr Garden pickney dem". "It is Mr. Gordon children." (25)

"Mi would rada you talk to mi" Translation : "I would rather you not talk to me"

"Tandy tink sey im a-go help you." "Stand there thinking he is going to help you." (25)

"Tek you time an mine it bruk". "Take your time, you might break it." (25)

"Wat a liiv an bambaie" Leftovers put aside to eat tomorrow (What is left for by-and by). (8)

"gone a foreign" Gone abroad (from Jamaica) (28)

"like mi a go maas" chil out (24)

"gwaan go maas" go cool yourself (24)

"mi a maas a money" (or item), it means you're going to put it away or put it one side (24)

"Every hoe ha dem stick a bush." The meaning of all that is "to each his own" It literally translates that for every size hoe there is a stick that size in the bush (or forest) for it. In JA they use tools similar to garden hoe. Theyuse it to make yam hill - we use it to make path. There are different sizes for different chores. So it can also mean that there is someone out there for everyone. (29)

"tan so back" (stand so back) laid back (31)

"a peer rumors ah gwan" "Its pure rumors that are going on" in other words "Its all only rumors that's being spread" (32)

"did deh deh" "I was there" (34)

"Im sey dat yuh was to bring ting" "He or She said you were to bring the thing" (25)

"Who colt de game" - it implies that someone made a wrong move, deliberately, to change the outcome of the plan. So who colt the game? Babylon! In other words... to prevent the Dread from succeeding, babylon colt the game, made a "wrong" move in regards to the dread (40)

"tea tar toe" - Tea tar toe is a game that uses three pieces (like buttons or stones) and to win all three have to be in line and the pieces are called out "tea, tar, toe". So one could say "Don't play tea tar toe with me" to mean "Don't toy with me" , etc. (29)

"buy off the bar" - the party's going good and all the liquor's been sold! (29)

"Water more than flour" - "time tough." It's like you're makin' dumplin and you have enough water but not enough flour. (29)

Johncrow feel cool breeze is a very old JA proverb that roughly means someone who, much like a johncrow, jumps at any opportunity to prey on someone else. Stephen Marley uses the line in "Rebel in Disguise from the "Joy and Blues" album. (44)

After the cane is cut, everything is taken away except the brown root, which is basically useless. And the field workers, being poor, wear a kind of cheap flip flop called a "booga wooga." So if you see Miss Brown downtown and she's got brown sugar all over her booga wooga, it means she's a canefield worker. (44)

"Is just pure almshouse a gwaan". Pure trickery going on. (29)

"Rat a Cut Bottle". even a rat needs some broken glass for self-defense when times are really rough (4)

"No call alligator 'long mouth' 'til you pass him." (44)

"If you want good, nose a fe run." "That mean, if you're working in the U.S. or if you are working anywhere, and then by multitude of rain, flood or winter, you lie down in bed because you don't want to have a runny nose - you're going to starve. So if you want to get any good out deh, you have to go out deh and get that runny nose. You have to be in the cold. So your nose a fe run." (45)

"Tek set pon you". when somebody just won't leave you alone! (29)

"Nuttin' nah go right" - nothing's going on in the right way. (46)

"'Wan Wan coco full baskit" - The basket can be filled by adding one coco at a time. You may not be able to put in all at the same time. (Coco is an edible tuber which helps to give body to a good pot of soup). Do not expect to achieve success overnight. (48)

"Mi a-go lef today" - I am leaving today (49)

"Lef mi nuh" - leave me alone (49)

"The stone that the builder refuse will be the head corner stone" - That which we reject, we eventually embrace (51)

"Pound Get A Blow" - Jamaican money used to be pounds and when it got changed to dollars, the pound is dead (29)

"Inna Di Red" - Speaker is centrally involved in any or everything. The saying comes from the analogy of an egg. (56)

"so mi go so dem" = "so mi go so den" = "so mi go so then"
This phrase is used in reggae/dancehall songs and made popular by recording artiste Sean Paul, which he includes in several of his songs such as the song titled "Like Glue". In the context of his songs it basically means "So let me tell you this" OR "So listen to me now"
"so mi go so" is more widely used and means "So I'm Like" (55)

"Yuh free paper bun"
“Your free time is up!” This phrase is usually said in reference to school children returning to school at the end of the two-month summer break. (49)

"What is fiyu cyaa be un-fiyu"
Whatever is meant for you can never be taken away from you. The phrase is usually said to someone who has overcome many challenges to achieve their goals. (49)

"Eat a food"
This is a fairly new phrase that has become quite popular. The message in this expression is to seize all opportunities that come within your reach. (49)

"Jus buil!" (bill)
This phrase is usually meant to calm a situation or advise someone not to get too worked up in order to de-escalate an argument. (49)

"Work me a work, anuh chicken me a jerk"
Simply put, “I came here to work, not to waste time or play around”. The phrase indicates that the speaker is serious about the task at hand and can also be said as a caution to others not to underestimate their abilities. (49)

"Put clothes pon yuh argument"
This is a new expression that’s a way of saying “mind what you’re saying” or “show some respect while speaking to me”. (49)

"Yuh salt bad!"
When a Jamaican calls you “salt” it means that you’re very unlucky. The phrase is often used in reacting to a series of unfortunate events or when someone experiences a major disappointment. (49)

"Yuh seet!"
This literally translates to “you see it” but is closer in meaning to “I see”. It’s used as a form of acknowledgment to show agreement with what is being said. (49)